24 Srimandir servitors to be served notice. Here’s Why

Puri: The Srimandir Temple Management Committee will serve a show-cause notice to 24 servitors and temple staff for violating temple norms during Ratha Jatra this year.

The development came after inspection of a CCTV footage of Ratha Jatra that found 24 servitors and temple staff responsible for violating temple norms during the annual festival.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of Puri Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb here today also discussed on the Supreme Court’ the 12 directives on Srimandir reforms.

Speaking to media, SJTA chief Pradipta Mohapatra informed that a special committee will be formed to examine the Supreme Court’s three directives, including abolition of heredity rights of servitors, restriction on collection of donations from devotees and amendment of temple reforms.

The committee to be headed by the Puri Gajapati will have SJTA chief, district Collector and SP as its members. It was also decided in the meeting that the SJTA will seek more time from the apex court to examine the 800-old tradition and submit its report to the latter.

This apart, panels will also be formed for development of Rosasala and Ananda Bazaar and provision of ID cards to servitors and temple staff.

Besides, it was decided at the meeting to conduct an inquiry into the Brahma Paribartan fiasco during the 2015 Nabakalebar and submit a report on the same by September last. The findings of the report will be deliberated in the next meeting of the temple management committee and made public later.